YSU
YSU
Mays candidatefor Payton Award
PHILADELPHIA -- Senior tailback P.J. Mays is one of the 16 candidates for the Walter Payton Award, presented by The Sports Network.
The Payton Award is presented to the top player in all of I-AA football.
Mays, who rushed for over 1,400 yards and scored 22 touchdowns a year ago, is one of two candidates from the Gateway Football Conference. The other is Tom Koutsos of Southern Illinois.
The "Payton Watch" will undergo three revisions during the season, prior to the final selection Nov. 25.
LOCAL
Brad Beck namedSVC player of week
YOUNGSTOWN -- Boardman High tailback Brad Beck received Steel Valley Conference player of the week honors for his performance in the Spartans' 42-0 victory over Woodrow Wilson last week.
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound junior gained 130 yards on 17 carries. He also scored four touchdowns.
Game changed
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Cardinal Mooney High football team will play host to Shaker Heights at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Stambaugh Stadium. The game was originally scheduled to kick off at 8 p.m.
Jonathon Ameenwalks on at Toledo
YOUNGSTOWN -- Former Ursuline High kicker Jonathan Ameen will continue his athletic career after making the University of Toledo football team as walk-on recently.
The 18-year-old freshman will be on the roster for the Rockets who are coached by Tom Amstutz.
In high school, Ameen held a state record for point-after kicks in a championship game. He was 7-for-7 in Ursuline's 49-37 win over Coldwater in the Division IV championship game in 2000.
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Ameen plans to major in finance and information systems.
Westminster OK'dfor Division III
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- The NCAA has officially granted Westminster College active membership in Division III for all sports during the 2002-03 academic year, effective Sept. 1.
The notification concludes a three-year reclassification from Div. II.
Westminster is eligible for national playoffs for all sports, as well as for conference titles and individual awards in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC).
NATION
Red Sox claimBenny Agbayani
BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox claimed outfielder Benny Agbayani off waivers from the Colorado Rockies.
In parts of five major league seasons, Agbayani has a .273 career average with 57 doubles, 39 home runs and 148 RBIs.
Charge droppedagainst Erickson
BALTIMORE -- A second-degree assault charge against Baltimore Orioles pitcher Scott Erickson was dropped after prosecutors interviewed the player's live-in girlfriend, prosecutors said.
Rockets signSteve Francis
HOUSTON -- The Houston Rockets signed point guard Steve Francis to a six-year contract extension, keeping him with the team through the 2008-09 season.
Sabres ink goalie
AMHERST, N.Y. -- Goaltender Ryan Miller will forgo his senior season at Michigan State after agreeing to a two-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres.
WORLD
U.S. wins more gold
YOKOHAMA, Japan -- Natalie Coughlin, Aaron Peirsol and Jason Lezak added to the United States' gold-medal count at the Pan Pacific swimming championships.
Coughlin swam the second sub-1 minute 100 backstroke in history, winning the event in 59.72 seconds.
Peirsol won the 100 backstroke in 54.22 seconds, ahead of teammate Randall Bal, while and Lezak won the 50 freestyle in 22.22. The U.S. now leads the standings with eight gold medals halfway through the six-day meet.
Ian Thorpe added his third gold with a win in the 200 freestyle, setting the meet record in a time of 1 minute, 44.75 seconds. Australia has six gold medals, second to the U.S.
Russian denies charges of fixing
LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- Russia's top international Olympic official denied that there is credible evidence to support accusations that a reputed mobster fixed two skating events at the Salt Lake City Games.
Vindicator staff/wire reports